New Design Trend: Appliances where you need them

New Design Trend: Appliances where you need them

There’s an old kitchen design principle called the work triangle. Refrigerator, range, and dishwasher make up a triangle and need to be located within a certain proximity of each other. But rules are made to be broken and there is a new trend in kitchen design that has appliances being located in new and sometimes unusual locations.

For example, Sub Zero and other manufacturers now offer undercounter refrigerator and freezer drawers, beverage centers, ice makers, and wine cellars. Families can now use a small refrigerator in a refreshment area so the kids to get cold snacks when they come home from school. Freezers drawers in the pantry area can be used for long term food storage. The entertainment area can feature an ice-maker along with the wine cellar, and dish drawers next to the sink in the wet bar.

Microwave drawers, warming drawers, built-in coffee makers, and duct-free downdraft cooktops also open up new location opportunities. The key is that design should be about how you want to live, and not follow outdated rules.